Richmond has halted West Coast’s eight-match winning streak with a 27-point triumph on the Gold Coast.
Key points:
- The Tigers have won five of their past six matches
- The Eagles dropped to fifth position on the ladder following the loss
- Joe Daniher kicked three goals for the Bombers, who recovered from a 36-point deficit to beat the Hawks
Earlier on Thursday evening, Essendon remarkably fought back from a six-goal deficit at half-time to beat Hawthorn by 16 points, with Joe Daniher kicking three goals in his first AFL match in almost 15 months.
In Carrara, the Tigers flexed their muscle in the third quarter as a four-goal run blew apart a hard-fought contest, with the reigning premiers winning 14.4 (88) to 9.7 (61).
The win is the third-placed Tigers’ fifth from their past six matches. The loss saw the Eagles slip out of the coveted top four to be positioned fifth on the ladder.
Richmond forward Tom Lynch kicked three goals but it was a moment of inspiration by Dustin Martin that sparked a third-quarter surge.
The superstar midfielder kicked a remarkable banana from the pocket after West Coast youngster Jarrod Brander’s awful shank out on the full gave the Tigers possession.
After Martin’s goal, Richmond kicked three more unanswered to open up a 29-point lead.
Jack Darling’s three goals in the third quarter kept hope alive for the Eagles, with a kick after the siren reducing the Tigers’ lead to 14 points.
The Tigers, however, halted the Eagles momentum with the first two goals of the final term, which included a long bomb from Noah Balta from outside 50 to seal the battle of the winners of the past three grand finals.
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Liam Ryan also had three goals for the Eagles and claimed four marks inside 50 in somewhat of a lone hand in the forward line for West Coast.
Ryan’s performance was telling after key forward Josh Kennedy was ruled out in the first quarter with a concussion.
Richmond had its own injury concern, with Dylan Grimes limping out of the match in the second quarter with a hamstring problem.
Martin finished with two goals and 17 possessions, while Bachar Houli (23 possessions) and skipper Trent Cotchin (26 possessions) were busy for the Tigers.
Eagles midfielder Andrew Gaff topped the disposals tally with 32 touches and his captain Luke Shuey had 27 disposals.
Bombers complete stunning comeback
Daniher starred for the Bombers in their incredible 13.9 (87) to 10.11 (71) in Thursday’s twilight match at Adelaide Oval.
The lanky forward booted 3.3 and took several strong grabs as the Bombers revived their season by snapping a five-match winless streak to rise to ninth on the ladder.
Hawthorn’s loss was soured by luckless Jonathon Patton suffering another injury.
Patton’s season could be over after hobbling from the field in the opening quarter with a suspected right calf injury.
The former number one draft pick, who underwent three knee reconstruction operations while with Greater Western Sydney, will have scans on Friday.
Patton had only returned to action last Saturday after being sidelined for six matches by a hamstring strain.
Hawthorn led 7.10 to 2.4 at half-time after scoring from 17 of their 22 inside 50s in the half.
But Daniher, who has been cruelled by a groin injury since his last match in round nine last year, played an inspired second half.
The Bombers booted five goals to one to trail by nine points at three-quarter-time.
Joe Daniher (second from right) and the Bombers had reason to celebrate in Adelaide.(AAP: David Mariuz)
Daniher’s purple patch began with a trademark high grab on the wing in the third stanza.
Minutes later, he marked low down, casually converted around his body and was mobbed by teammates.
Daniher soon added two more marks only to blaze set shots wide, but laced-out Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti for another major.
And in the tense last quarter, with his side four points up with less than four minutes remaining, Daniher goaled again.
He then capped his fairytale comeback by snapping the last major of the match to seal a remarkable win.
Essendon’s Zach Merrett was outstanding with 36 disposals, ably supported by Ashley McGrath (32 possessions), Kyle Langford (27 touches) and Dylan Shiel (25 disposals).
Bombers Jake Stringer, Cale Hooker and Dylan Clarke each booted two goals.
Hawthorn’s Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell was his side’s chief ball-winner with 27 disposals, while teammates Tom Scully, Jack Gunston and Daniel Howe slotted two majors apiece.
AAP/ABC
